The scientific field of the biological control of alien invasive plants (AIP) has developed rapidly over the last 100 years in various countries (Morin et al. 2013) but, are some countries performing better than others? Biological control looks to diminish the negative consequences of alien invasive plants. For example, biological control reduces alterations of biotic and abiotic processes produced by AIP occurring within the ecosystem (Richardson and van Wilgen 2004). Major sites of invasion like the United States of America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Canada have therefore been at the forefront of scientific progress in the field of biological control (Julien and Griffiths 1998; Cock et al. 2010). Interestingly, scientific advancement in the field has been a product of connected but distinct histories and conditions (Palmer et al. 2010). Alien invasive plants have influenced the natural environmental systems through the loss of biodiversity as well as economic loss in both South Africa and Australia with various introductions and subsequent naturalisations (Groves 2002; Morin et al. 2005; Morin et al. 2013).This paper will aim to provide an overview comparison of the major differences between the Australian and South African scientific field of biological control of alien invasive plants. The scientific field will be defined here as all the components within the practise of biological control as well as the sub-disciplines that may affect the practise although these sub-disciplines (eg. Legislation) will not be focused on to the same degree. Components of the scientific discipline such as general differences, successes and failures, biological techniques and innovations, agent selection, host specificity testing,... ... middle of paper ... ... simulated herbivory to predict the efficacy of a biocontrol agent: the effect of manual defoliation and Macaria pallidata Warren (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) herbivory on Mimosa pigra seedlings. Australian Journal of Entomology 45:324-326. Witkowski, E. T. F. and Garner, R. D. 2008. Seed production, seed bank dynamics, resprouting and long-term response to clearing of the alien invasive Solanum mauritianum in a temperate to subtropical riparian ecosystem. South African Journal of Botany 74:476-484. Zimmerman, H. G. and Neser, S. 1999. Trends and prospects for biological control of weeds in South Africa. African Entomology Memoir 1:165-173. Zimmermann, H. G., Moran, V. C. and Hoffmann, J. H. 2004. Biological control in the management of invasive alien plants in South Africa, and the role of the Working for Water programme. South African Journal of Science 100:34-40.
Invasive species are non-native organisms that occupy habitats and disrupt the natural ecological cycles of the habitat. They threaten the biodiversity of an ecosystem and are biological pollutants Invasive species introduced into new habitats usually maximize their reproduction in their new home and crowd out native species. Their lack of natural predators in their new community allow for a proliferation in growth and expansion as a result of their abundant food supply. Once they are established, invasive species can rarely be eliminated because their new habitat is favorable for their survival.
Did you know that you happen to be surrounded by invasive species? These species are animals that come into areas they do not belong in. The articles, “Invaders among Us,” and “Invader Alert,” show this. They harm the environment, cost tons of money in damage and extermination, and they have to be prevented.
Global change is taking place every day; therefore, it is important to understand how human activities and behavior alters the biodiversity and functions of ecosystems. Alien species is a stimulator of major changes in ecosystems (Vila et al. 2011). An invasive species, is a non-native plant, animal, or fungus that moves to a new ecosystem in a foreign environment. Invasive ecology explores how the invasive species affect the economic, environmental, and human health on the new environment. For example, invasive ecology studies how an invasive species tends to crowd out and sometimes replace a native species (Richardson and Pysek 2008).
Ever since the dawn of biotechnology, the world had to face a new dilemma: bioterrorism. Using biological agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc., bioterrorism attack aims to cause illness of death in people, animals, or plants as a method of warfare. Used throughout history, biological weapon serves as a pivotal role in disarming an army.
When people think of invasive species they normally do not think of the human species, but why not? There is a large debate about whether or not human are an invasive species. Before people debate about whether or not the human race is an invasive species they should know the definition of one. The legal definition of an invasive species in the United States is “an alien species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health” (Zielinski). The International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN, defines an invasive species as “animals, plants or other organisms introduced by man into places out of their natural range of distribution, where they become established and disperse, generating a negative impact on the local ecosystem and species” (Zielinski). If we recognize that the human race is an invasive species then we can take steps to lessen the places we are at, the damage we do to the environment, and the damage we do to other species.
Zipkin, Elise F., Kraft, Clifford E., Cooch, Evan G., and Sullivan, Patrick J., “When Can Efforts to Control Nuisance and Invasive Species Backfire?,” Ecological Applications, Vol. 19, No. 6 (2009): 1585-1595, accessed October 11, 2013. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40346271.
The term invasive species is described as a species that is introduced into an area in which it is not native. This species has the potential to cause a negative effect to the native species and other biotic factors in those surroundings (Invasive Species, n.d). Any kind of living organism can be a potential invasive species, including the seeds and eggs of an organism (Invasive Species, n.d). These species can be brought into an area any number of ways but are usually a result of human activity (Invasive Species, n.d). Although, it has been discovered that protected areas can be impacted by invasive species, possibly more so than non-protected areas (Hoopes et al., 2013).
Invasive species as a whole have become a nuisance to many habitats and ecosystems around the world. What defines an invasive species is the following. It must be a species that is foreign to the habitat it resides in, have no natural predators which allow it to reproduce in such a rapid manner, and out compete native animals of food and shelter (Rosenthal 2011). These characteristics are what create such high populations of these invasive species in various habitats around the globe.
According to the National Wildlife Federation, invasive species can be any kind of living organism that is not native to any given ecosystem, and consequently causes harm. More specifically, invasive species are characterized by their abilities to reproduce quickly, and spread aggressively. Interestingly, invasive species are most often spread through human activity. Considering modern transportation, people and goods are able to travel around the world at a rapid rate, but also carry potentially dangerous species with them. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reports that eradicating invasive species is possible, if its presence is detected early enough. The DNR outlines control programs that utilize the following components: manual,
For instance, an increase in endangered species can lead to a decrease in biodiversity, which allows the invasive species to take over the environment with ease. Letting an invasive species population get out of control can lead to the destruction of an ecosystem and in almost no time at all, an ecosytem can be overrun with an invasive species because they don’t have many predators in this new environment to control their populations. With a new environment to adapt to, invasive species consume a wide variety of organisms because they are all available to them. A well known law in ecology, Competitive Exclusion, states that no two species can occupy the same lifestyle and resources. This means that invasive species out compete natives for their resources because they have few limiting factors on their population, which is why the native species are sometimes killed off. On one occasion, people tried to import the cane toad to Australia as pest control, but the toads killed everything in sight and their populations spread. Insects and bird eggs are in danger, even many potential predators were killed because the toads are poisonous to consume (Spotts). Countless defenseless animals are in danger because of instances like this and should be considered when making desicions to transport
Invasive plants are changing forest biodiversity by outcompeting native plants. Introduction of invasive plants disrupts native fauna that have intricate symbiosis with native plants. By reducing native plants, a risk is put on native fauna for potential population
Have you ever asked yourself, “Shouldn’t we do something about invasive species since they’re so bad?”. Actually, invasive species can be very good for the environment, just that we only ever talk about the downsides. This essay will argue that humans shouldn’t act to remove invasive species because when humans try to move invasive species, things like birds might not have food and the government will be losing money we need to pay someone to remove the invasive organisms. ‘
Invasive species, (also known as invasive alien species or simply alien species) are defined as any organism (plant, animal, pathogen, or other living thing) that is alien (non-native) to an ecosystem, which can cause adverse economical, ecological, or health effects to native species and/or humans. The roots of these problems all stem from the massive negative ecological impact these organisms are having on the environment (CBD, 2009). For all animal extinctions where the cause is known since the 1600’s, invasive alien species have been a contributing factor 40% of the time (CBD, 2006); the second most contributing factor to extinctions after loss of habitat (GC, 2013). By eliminating native species through competition for resources, predation, and transmittal of disease, invasive species continue to reduce biodiversity in almost all ecosystems around the world (CBD, 2009). In the future, this problem may worsen, and if no action is taken, could lead to a cascading ecological problem so large that whole communities or even ecosystems could collapse.
Interactions in between plant species are of great importance and often result in fierce competition within the community. Over the past decades, increasing in human activity and movement allowed certain species to migrate beyond their origins and vastly expand in population, plants being one of the most complicated organisms on earth were highly involved in such activity. This enabled invasions by alien plants which poses serious threats and may inflict negative impacts to native species of plants in an certain ecosystem. Due to this nature, it may be concluded that there are certain traits and characteristics in these plants that allowed for the dominance to occur. It is crucial to be able to identify these traits to prevent
Thesis: Biological Warfare is morally and inhumanely wrong, It is the wrongful killing of men, women, and children. It should be stopped no matter what the circumstances are.